SPYSHOTS: 2020 Nissan Almera sighted again in KL

The all-new, fourth generation N18 Nissan Almera has been spied again undergoing road trials in Kuala Lumpur. Reader Eric Foong spotted the car earlier today somewhere in Mont Kiara and managed to snap a few photos of it from behind.

It’s the third time the Almera has been sighted, and the second instance where it has been caught on camera while on public roads – the first was in December last year, when two examples (one silver, one white) were caught testing along Jalan Dutamas Raya.

The white example today features the same rear end camo, with its boot lid and rear lights masked. While no front end photos were taken today, it’s safe to presume that the front end is clad in the same fashion as it was late last year.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor confirmed last year that B-segment sedan will be introduced in Malaysia sometime this year, although the Covid-19 outbreak will likely have impacted its launch timeline – to what extent remains to be seen.

The Almera spotted today (left) has a different lower bumper section than the white unit spied last December.

Based on the previous spyshot set, local consumers can expect there to be a few variants grades, the visual indicators being different headlight systems (halogen on lower-spec and LED, on higher) and wheels in different designs and sizes.

The white car spotted back in December was what should be the higher-spec version, but it’s not the same example as today’s white unit, because it has a different lower section without a body-coloured diffuser insert, which would indicate it to be a lower-spec unit. LED tail lights look to be standard issue across the range.

In Thailand, the Almera features a sole powertrain choice, and that’s a HRA0 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine offering 100 PS at 5,000 rpm and 152 Nm of torque from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm. It’s paired with an Xtronic CVT with D-Step Logic driving the front wheels.

The power output is close to the 102 PS coming off the HR15DE 1.5 litre normally-aspirated four-cylinder mill seen in our current Almera, but has more torque than the NA’s 139 Nm. We don’t know if the Malaysian-spec cars will be equipped with the new, smaller displacement turbo or retain the existing NA unit, or utilise both in the line-up.

All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand

All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand

Likewise, the level of standard equipment that will be present in local cars. The range-topping VL variant in Thailand is kitted with LED fog lamps, a seven-inch instrument cluster display, automatic air-conditioning and a six-speaker, eight-inch Nissan Connect infotainment system.

Safety kit available for the Almera is also comprehensive, with six airbags (front, side and curtain), Vehicle Dynamic Control and a raft of Nissan intelligent safety systems available on the highest-spec version. The last collectively groups driver assist kit such as Forward Collision Warning, Emergency Braking, Around View Monitor, Moving Object Detection, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Styling-wise, the new Almera is of course a world away from the model it replaces, and so its arrival will certainly present the segment with another dynamic option to consider. Presently, the Almera is positioned as the more affordable option compared to the Toyota Vios and Honda City, and so things will really get interesting should the base version of the new car dip under RM70k like the current model is at the moment.

This or the new fifth-gen Honda City, which is also due in this year – which one would you pick? Let us know in the comments below.

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

I hope no honda fanbois doesn’t come here and talk nonsense about nissan jatco cvt issues. This means that you never experience for driving nissan before. Look at yourself, why everyone boycott honda malaysia when aftersales service and quality is bad. As well as mostly honda models have lacking of safety features.

Well, I had already experience in driving my civic 1.8 in 2017 but my honda quality have so many problems such as fuel pump, steering rack, always jerking and low noise can hear crackling sound that not even full warranty yet. As bringing my car to aftersales service, standard are also so poor which I don’t know what their honda technicians are doing. That’s the reason why I boycott honda malaysia. Not only me, they also boycott honda malaysia as they also faced major issues for driving honda.

People will no rather buy Honda because of quality and aftersales is very cheapskate. This City Turbo definitely no AEB, no land departure warning, no blind spot monitor and etc. Rather buy other b segment car that has more safety features and more reliable

I am thinking why Tan Chong wants to launch a sedan when SUVs are the rage now. They should launch the Nissan Kick ahead of the Almera. Why wait till Toyota and Perodua launched their respective B-segment SUVs?

Based on my understanding, 1.0turbo can accelerate faster since it hit 152NM from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm and hit max 100ps sooner at 5000rpm. With its a quick accelerate configuration, it can smoke 1.5NA far away on head start.

However, if given a very very long track without traffic to flouring the pedal forever, the slow pick-up 1.5NA will slowly crawl nearer with 102ps at higher rpm.(Which is not practical in real life situation)

I would choose 1.0turbo even it is less smooth, vibrate more, less lifespan as it provide practical acceleration that very useful in city and high volume traffic PLUS highway.

Honda City turbo is better buy. more powerful and better resale value. it’s a no-brainer choice. those who buy almera and vios will lose a lot of money from its resale value. also their cars will struggle going up to genting highlands with even 3 adults!

Vios, almera and persona are better buy, good quality, beautiful design and better resale value. Those who buy honda city, will be more brainless which service is so expensive, poor quality, low resale value compare to these other competitors. 4 years later, city has lost more resale value money in which city has the highest low resale value dropped by RM40K while Almera dropped by RM35K and Vios dropped by RM38K.

As the owner of the current gen Almera, I don’t recommend to get this car. Many mechanical parts failed just after warranty expires while mileage is still low, e.g.bearing, radiator fanmotor, compressor, engine mounting & so much more. Rattling interior panels. Service center won’t dare to replace during warranty period. Service agent is unreliable too. Since 5th year of ownership, spent around rm5k per year to service & repair.

Perhaps someone can start a petition to strip off TanChong from the Nissan franchise & direct intervention from Nissan Japan.

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